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Ipswich Central partners with Brighten The Corners to expand music festivals

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Oliver Rouane-Williams

Two music festivals will take place in Ipswich in 2025 through a new partnership between Ipswich Central and Brighten The Corners.

Why it matters: The partnership aims to strengthen Ipswich's reputation as a cultural destination while boosting the local economy by bringing more visitors to town centre venues and businesses.

The details: The partnership will expand the existing Brighten The Corners Festival in June and introduce a new free-to-attend music event across pubs and bars in Ipswich town centre in October.

Ibibio Sound Machine at the Corn Exchange at BTC Festival 2024
Ibibio Sound Machine at the Corn Exchange at BTC Festival 2024Kezia Tan

What they're saying: "Ipswich is a vibrant cultural destination. Our partnership with Brighten the Corners is a fantastic opportunity to enhance the festival this year using the All About Ipswich website and social media channels to draw more people to enjoy both the music festivals and our local businesses," said Lee Walker , Ipswich Central  Chief Executive.

By the numbers: The partnership will deliver:

  • Two festivals in 2025 – the flagship summer event in June and a new autumn festival in October

  • Expanded promotional efforts through All About Ipswich channels

  • Exclusive ticket offers for Ipswich Central member businesses

  • Wellness activities introduced to the festival

For context: Ipswich Central will use its consumer-facing brand 'All About Ipswich' to amplify the festivals' impact, while developing bounce-back offers and hotel staycation packages for festival attendees.

What's next: Both organisations will regularly review progress to ensure maximum impact for the June and October events.

The bottom line: Joe Bailey , CEO of Brighten The Corners , said: "This partnership not only allows us to take the June festival to the next level this year, but also to bring something new to Ipswich's cultural calendar in the autumn. By expanding our reach with All About Ipswich and introducing a new free town centre event in October, we will do even more this year to showcase music and the arts, whilst helping the local economy."

Portrait photo of Oliver Rouane-Williams
Oliver Rouane-Williams
Mentioned in this article:
Ipswich Central 
Brighten the Corners 
Lee Walker 
Joe Bailey  
Posted in:
Business Improvement District
Cultural Events & Festivals
Music
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Suffolk library dispute: Charity says council misrepresenting management costs

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Suffolk Libraries claims its back office costs are 21.4% of the total budget—not 33% as claimed by Suffolk County Council, whose CEO urges councillors not to "make a big decision based on flawed figures."

Why it matters: Suffolk County Council has proposed taking the library service back in-house after 12 and a half years of being run by Suffolk Libraries, a move the charity says is based on misrepresented figures. The decision has been met with widespread public criticism:

  • A survey by this publication revealed that 76% were not in favour of the decision, with just 14% in favour of it

  • A petition against the takeover is approaching 21,000 signatures

Bruce Leeke and Sylvia Knights of Suffolk Libraries
Bruce Leeke and Sylvia Knights of Suffolk Libraries

By the numbers: Suffolk Libraries has an annual charitable turnover of nearly £10m, of which:

  • £6.8m comes from the council contract

  • Nearly £3m is generated by Suffolk Libraries itself

  • The charity says this extra income "pays for nearly all back office and management costs"

What they're saying: "We stand by our figures which prove 21.4% of our total annual salary budget is spent on back office/management, including functions like the stock team, HR and IT," said Bruce Leeke, CEO of Suffolk Libraries.

"The figure is only around 7% for senior management, a ratio that seems perfectly reasonable for a charity responsible for running 45 libraries, three mobile libraries and 13 prison libraries in addition to many other value adding contracts."

The other side: The county council has claimed that 33% of Suffolk Libraries staffing costs are spent on back office and management, a figure the charity disputes as being calculated incorrectly.

What's next: Suffolk Libraries met with the council this week to present a new proposal that would potentially allow the council to access additional funding to maintain the current service for the next two years.

For context: The charity says it has "successfully run" the county's 45 libraries for over 12 years and is "heralded within the industry as an example of best practice."

The bottom line: Sylvia Knights, Chair of Suffolk Libraries, has recorded a video appealing to Suffolk County Council decision makers to reconsider and "get back round the negotiating table."

The Suffolk Libraries Contract: A Message from Sylvia Knights, Chair of the Board
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Oliver Rouane-Williams
Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

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